Sheet aligning apparatus



Oct. 29, 1963 s. WALSH 3,108,800

SHEET ALIGNING APPARATUS I Filed Dec. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvEN-roR S/DN 7 W6; JH

ATTORNEYJ Oct. 29, 1963 s. WALSH SHEET ALIGNING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1961 4 25 26 27 F6 H/ H/ NVEN'TOR Sun/var MPLSH BY M M ATTORNEYS United States PatentO 3,1085% SHEET ALIGNING APPARATUS Sidney Walsh, Hitchin, England, assignor to International Computers and Tabulators Limited Filed Dec. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 157,057 Claims priority, application Great Britain Dec. 30, 1960 7 Claims. (Cl. 271-53) The present invention relates to apparatus for aligning sheets fed thereto relative to a predetermined reference datum position.

It has previously been proposed, in apparatus for feeding sheets to be processed, to align one edge of the sheet relative to a fixed datum line. Such a requirement exists, for example in apparatus for printing or otherwise recording information in predetermined positions on a document. Other forms of sheet processing apparatus where this alignment requirement exists are, for example, machines for folding sheets and other documents or for printing patterns and designs in a number of operations, successive printings being required to be in registration. Hence it will be understood that the term sheets used herein includes flexible sheets, cards, documents and the like of paper, board, plastic or like material.

An example of the alignment of a record card in this way is shown and described in British patent specification No. 518,783. This specification describes a form of record card controlled statistical machine in which record cards are fed from a supply hopper and pass into a sensing station where they are processed to sense items of information previously recorded on them. In order that the cards shall be accurately positioned within the sensing station at each of a number of index points a series of aligiing stops are interposed into the path along which the cards are vfed. There are as many inter-posers as there are index point positions to be sensed and the leading edge of the card is engaged by each of the interposers in turn so that the card is advanced along the feed path in a series of steps. The movement of the card is thus controlled by the interposers and is advanced from one interposer to the next by the withdrawal of the first interposer when the second is positioned ready to intercept it. It will be seen, therefore that a fairly complex and accurately timed mechanical operating system is required to move the interposers relative to the card path.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for aligning sheets fed thereto by engaging an edge of the sheet with a fixed reference face.

According to the present invention apparatus for aligning a sheet selectively in any of a number of desired positions relative to a datum, comprises a plate having a number of registering channels therein, each channel having a reference face corresponding to one of the desired positions, feeding means to feed the sheet over the plate, deflection means to deflect an edge of the sheet into a selected channel by producing a ditference in air pressure between opposite surfaces of the sheet, and adjusting means for adjusting the position of the sheet to bring the deflected edge into aligning contact with the reference face of the selected channel.

Examples of apparatus embodying the present invention will now be described, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of one form of the apparatus,

FIGURES 2 and 3 show, diagrammatically, modified forms of a distributor forming part of the apparatus,

FIGURE 4 shows a side elevation of a modification of part of the apparatus, and

FIGURE 5 shows a diagrammatic side view of an alternative form of the apparatus.

Where a part of the apparatus is common to more than one figure of the drawings, the part has the same reference numeral for all the figures in which it appears.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings a record card feeding and processing apparatus has a hopper 1 con taining a stack 2 of record cards to be fed and has card feeding devices (not shown) for advancing one card at a time from the stack 2 into the bite of feeding rollers 3 and 4 and thence to a processing station 5 which may be a punching, printing or sensing station.

Each card contains a number of parallel rows in which information may be recorded or from which infiormation may be sensed. These rows are arranged in predetermined positions on the card, termed index points, and are aligned on the card in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, the latter being indicated by the arrow 8.

It is required to present each row to the processing station 5 in turn and in consequence it is required to step the card through the station 5 from index point to index point, arresting the card as each index point is positioned opposite the station 5.

Considering a card 9, which is shown in position with the first index point aligned with the station 5, the card 9 is arrested at each of the index point positions under control of a card aligning arrangement 10'. The aligning arrangement 10 includes :a flat plate 11 over which the card 9 is fed. A number of parallel alignment channels, of which only the channels 12, 13, 14 and 15 are shown, are provided in the plate 11, one channel :for each of the required arresting positions. The channels 12 to 15 are disposed across the plate 11 at right angles to the direction of feeding and are so positioned that if the leading edge 1-6 of the card 9 is engaged by one of the channels, for example the channel 12 as shown, the card 9 is arrested with the corresponding index point position at the station 5. During the time for which the card 9 is arrested the card feeding rollers 3 and 4- are ineffective, the rollers 3 and 4 slipping when the card 9 is arrested.

Each of the channels 12 to 15 has two faces, a leading face 17 sloping inwards from the face 18- of the plate 11 and a reference face 19 substantially perpendicular to the face 18 of the plate 11 and joining the leading face 17 at an acute angle. A number of groups of holes, of which the groups 2.0 to 23 are shown, are provided through the plate 11 in each of the leading faces 17 of the channels 12 to 15 respectively. The groups 2.0 to 23 of holes associated with channels 12 to 15 respectively, each communicate with a separate one of suction boxes 24 to 27 respectively, below the plate 11.

The suction boxes '24 to 2.7 are connected by piping to a distributor 28 which in its simplest form, consists of a shallow cylinder 29 with the pipes from the suction boxes 24 to 27 connected sequentially to each of a number of ports 3% to 33- respectively in the wall of the cylinder 29. A hollow shaft 34 is mounted concentrically with the cylinder 29 and is rotated by a drive (not shown). The shaft 34 carries a hollow vane 35 which wipes round the inside of the cylinder 29 as the shaft 3-4 is rotated. The hollow 36 in the vane 35 communicates with the hollow 37 in the shaft 34, the hollow 37 being connected by a suitable bushing to an evacuating pump 38. Hence the rotation of the vane 35 connects the suction boxes 24 to 27 to the pump 38 in turn. The space between adjacent ones of the ports 38' to 33 in the wall of the cylinder 29 is greater than the Working head of the vane 35, so that each of the pipes to the suction boxes 24 to 27 is vented to atmosphere before the next is connected to the pump 38.

The drive to the shaft 34- is coupled to the main drive 58 as indicated by dashed line 59 to the processing apparatus 5 so that each pipe is vented after the appropriate processing operation has been completed, and is also coupled to the drive to the rollers 3 and 4 as indicated by dashed line 60. The drive coupling is suitably arranged so that each of the suction boxes 24 to 27 is connected to the pump 38 in turn in synchronisnr with the feeding of the card 9 so that suction is applied to each of the channels 12 to 15 as the corresponding index points on the card 9 are about to pass the station 5.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that to arrest the card 9 at any particular index point, suction is applied to the appropriate one of the channels 12 to 15 as the leading edge 16 of the card 9 begins to pass over the channel. Hence the leading edge 16 of the card 9 is deflected towards the sloping leading face 17 of the channel. The continual feeding of the card 9 causes the leading edge 16 of the card 9 to pass over the leading face 17 of the channel until the leading edge :16 engages the reference face 19 of the channel. The card 9 is then arrested and feeding becomes ineifective. By the end of the processing operation the vane 35 has moved so that the pipe from the previously selected one of the suction boxes 24 to 27 is vented to atmosphere. This allows the engaged leading edge 16 of the card 9 to be released from the reference face 19 as the card 9 straightens under the influence of its own elasticity and feeding is again effective. The vane 35 again moves to connect suction to that one of the suction boxes 24- to 2.7 which is connected to the channel associated with the next index point and the arresting operation is repeated for this index point.

The feeding rollers 3 and 4 are arranged to move the card 9 slightly faster than would be required for continuous feeding so that the card 9 is always arrested by the engagement of its leading edge 16 with the reference face 19 of one of the channels 12 to 15 in readiness for the processing of the associated index point. The vane 35 is arranged to apply suction to the next required channel as the leading edge 16 of the card 9 arrives at the associated sloping face 17, and vents this channel at the end of the processing operation.

The operations of feeding and arresting the card described above re ly for accurate operation upon a fine adjustment of the friction drive to the card 9 during the arresting operations. 'For example, if the setting of the rollers 3 and 4 is such that the friction drive is too weak, the drive will not be capable of moving the card 9 against the frictional resistance offered by the sloping face 17 of that one of the arresting channels 12 to 15 to which the card 9 is drawn by suction. However, if the drive is too strong the card 9 tends to buckle slightly when the leading edge 16 is arrested by the reference face 19. This action seats the leading edge v16 of the card 9 firmly into the angle at the junction of the sloping face 17 and the reference face 19* of the channel, with the result that the card 9 does not straighten when the suction is removed by the vane 35.

Referring now also to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the tolerance on the friction drive adjustment may be improved by providing an alternative form of distributor in conjunction with an air blower. The distributor 39 has a vane 40 carrying two openings 41 and 4 2 in its working head, the leading opening 41 being connected to the pump 38 and the trailing opening 42 being connected to a blower 4 3. Each of the arresting channels \12 to 15 is then connected firstly to the pump 38 and later, after processing, to the blower 43 so that the increased air pressure applied to the holes in the sloping face 17 after the completion of the processing operation then forces the lea-ding edge 16 of the card 9 out of the channel. This movement may also be assisted by arranging that the reference face of the channel slopes slightly in the direction of the card feed. This helps to prevent the trapping of the leading edge 16 of the card 9 referred to above.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3 of the "drawings, a simplified distributor is provided by employing a sealed cylinder 45 and a plain vane 46 extending diametrically across the cylinder 45. Inlets to the cylinder 45 from the pump 38 and blower 43 are provided at diametrically op posite points in an end wall 47 of the cylinder 45. The ports 30 to 33, etc., communicating with the channel pipes, are arranged in one half of the cylinder 45 only.

Rotation of the vane 46 is then arranged so that at the beginning of the feed cycle of a card 9, all the channels 12 to 15 are connected to the pump 38. The card 9 is thus deflected into the first channel 12. After the first processing operation has been completed the rotation of the vane 46 allows the blower 43 to be connected to the first channel 12, while the channels 13 to 15 are connected to the pump *38. As processing proceeds the ports 30 to 3 3 in the wall of the cylinder 45 are progressively disconnected from the pump =38 and connected to the blower 43 by the continued rotation of the vane 46. This mode of operation has the further advantage that the part of the card 9 behind the leading edge 16 is floated on a cushion of air, thereby reducing friction with the plate 11 over which the card is fed.

It will be appreciated that other variants of suction and pressure applied to the arresting channels are possible by suitable mechanical design of the distributor.

A modification of the arrangement to render the provi-- sion of a blower unnecessary is shown in FIGUPUE 4 of the drawings. A further plate 48 is spaced away from the first plate 11 by a distance slightly greater than the thick ness of the card 9 so that the card 9 is fed between the two plates 11 and 48. The plate 48 then contains rows 49 to 52 of holes, the rows 49 to 52 being positioned above the channels 12 to 15, respectively, in the plate 11. The rows 49 to 52 of holes in the plate 48 are then connect ed in turn by a distributor, such as 28 to the suction pump 38 to assist the leading edge 16 of the card 9 out of the channel (for example channel 12 as shown) into which it had been deflected. These connections are indi cated schematically by dotted lines 61 in the figure.

It is, alternatively, possible to align the card with refer= ence to the trailing edge, for example by using a form of card feed which feeds the card past the required alignment position and then reverses the direction of feed to engage the trailing edge with a reference face.

An example of such an arrangement will now be de scribed with reference to FIGURE 5 of the drawings. The plate 11 is provided with channels 12 to 15 as previously described, but in this case the disposition of the sloping face 17 and the reference face 19 of each of the arresting channels 12 to 15 in relation to the feeding direction is the reverse of that described earlier.

The feeding arrangement consists of two pairs 53 and 54 of feed rollers operating in opposite directions. The pair 53 of feed rollers rotates so as to move the card 9 in the forward direction as indicated by the arrow 55, and the periphery of the roller 56 of the pair 53 is relieved at a number of positions. Thus, under the influence of the pair 53 of rollers, the card 9 is repeatedly alternately gripped for forward feeding and released to allow alignment. The period during which the card is gripped is such that the card is fed slightly beyond the next required alignment position. The pair 54 of feed rollers is lightly spring-loaded on to the opposite surfaces of the card and the pair 54 of rollers is continuously rotated in the reverse direction. While the card is positively gripped by the pair 53 of rollers, the pair 54 skid over the card 9, so that while the card 9 is being fed by the pair 53 of rollers, the pair 54 is ineffective. However, when the card 9 is released by the pair 53 of rollers, the pair 54 is effective to reverse the direction of movement of the card 9, and the trailing edge 57 of the card 9 engages the reference face 19 of one of the channels 12 to 15, the engagement being controlled pneumatically as previously described. It will be appreciated that one or both of the pairs 53 and 54 of feed rollers may be duplicated to provide drive to more than one place on the card 9.

As well as the obvious advantage that this latter mode of operation allows alignment of the card 9 with respect to the trailing edge 57, a further advantage is that the card 9 is fed forward away from the reference face 19 and any tendency for the edge of the card 9 to seat in the junction of the two faces 17 and 9 of the channel, as previously described, is avoided.

In all the foregoing examples the card has been aligned by feeding it until one edge is engaged with a reference face, the engagement being controlled pneumatically. It will be appreciated that although the feeding device has been described as consisting of driving rolls frictionally engaged with the card, other known forms of card feeding device may be used instead. For example, it is known to use grippers or feeding knives for the purpose of feeding. A gripper feed may be used for example, the tension on the grippers being relaxed as the card reaches the appropriate alignment position to allow the card to slip as it engages the reference face. Springloaded feeding knives may also be used to push the card into position, the tension applied to the knives being such that the knives yield upon engagement between the card and the reference face, for example.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for arresting a sheet with a reference edge selectively aligned in any of a number of predetermined positions relative to a datum, comprising a plate having a number of registering channels therein, each of the channels having a reference face, the faces being respectively in the different predetermined positions; automatic sheet feeding means for moving a sheet relative to the plate in one direction substantially at right angles to the channels; means for selectively producing an air pressure differential at a selected one of said channels effective to deflect the reference edge of the sheet into the selected channel during movement of the sheet, said sheet feeding means then being effective to align the sheet with its reference edge in contact with the reference face of said selected channel.

2. Apparatus for arresting a sheet with a reference edge selectively aligned in any of a number of predetermined positions relative to a datum, comprising a plate having a number of registering channels therein, each of the channels having a reference face, the faces being respectively in the different predetermined positions; automatic sheet feeding means for moving a sheet relative to the plate in one direction substantially at right angles to the channels; a suction pump; means for selectively connecting the suction pump to the channels to produce an air pressure differential at a selected one of said channels effective to deflect the reference edge of the sheet into the selected channel during movement of the sheet, said sheet feeding means then being effective to align the sheet with its reference edge in contact with the reference face of said selected channel.

3. Apparatus for arresting a sheet with a reference edge aligned in each of a number of predetermined positions relative to a datum in succession, comprising a plate having a number of registering channels therein, each of the channels having a reference face, the faces being respectively in the different predetermined position; automatic sheet feeding means for moving a sheet across the plate in one direction substantially at right angles to the channels; a suction pump; means coupled to the feeding means for connecting the suction pump to the channels in turn in synchronism with the movement of the sheet across the plate, the connection of the pump to a channel producing 6 an air pressure differential at said channel elfective to defleet the reference edge of the sheet into the channel during movement of the sheet, said sheet feeding means then being effective to align the sheet with its reference edge in contact with the reference face of said channel.

4. Apparatus for arresting a sheet with a reference edge aligned in each of a number of predetermined positions relative to a datum in succession, comprising a plate having a number of registering channels therein, each of the channels having a reference face, the faces being respectively in the different predetermined positions; automatic sheet feeding means for moving a sheet initially across the plate in one direction substantially at right angles to the channels to bring the trailing edge of the sheet to each of the channels in turn; a suction pump; means coupled to the feeding means for connecting the suction pump to the channels in turn in synchronism with the movement of the sheet, the connection of the pump to a channel producing an air pressure differential at said channel effective to deflect the trailing edge of the sheet into the channel, said sheet feeding means then temporarily reversing the direction of motion of the sheet to bring the trailing edge of the sheet into contact with the reference face of said channel during the reversed motion.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the sheet feeding means comprises first and second sets of feeding rollers rotating respectively in opposite directions, the second set of rollers being in low frictional engagement with the sheet; means for ensuring that the first set of rollers initially engages frictionally with the sheet sufiiciently to overcome the low frictional engagement oflered by said second set to move the sheet in said one direction and means for temporarily relieving the engagement of said first set of rollers as the trailing edge of the sheet arrives at each of the channels to allow the second set to move the sheet in the reverse direction.

6. Apparatus for arresting a sheet with a reference edge aligned in any of a number of positions relative to a datum, comprising a plate having a number of registering channels therein, each of the channels having a reference face, the faces being respectively in the different predetermined positions; automatic sheet feeding means for moving a sheet relative to the plate in one direction substantially at right angles to the channels; a suction pump; means for selectively connecting the suction pump to the channels to produce an air pressure differential at a selected one of said channels effective to deflect the reference edge of the sheet into the selected channel during movement of the sheet, said sheet feeding means then being effective to align the sheet with its reference edge in contact with the reference face of said selected channel; an air compressor; and means for transferring the connection of the selected channel from the suction pump to the air compressor to release the reference edge from said reference face.

7. Apparatus for temporarily arresting a'sheet with a reference edge aligned in a selected one of a number of positions relative to a datum, comprising a first plate having a number of registering channels therein, each of the channels having a reference face, the faces being respectively in the different predetermined positions; automatic sheet feeding means for moving a sheet relative to the plate in one direction substantially at right angles to the channels; a suction pump; means for selectively connecting the suction pump to the channels to produce an air pressure differential at the one of said channels corresponding to the selected arresting position effective to deflect the reference edge of the sheet into the said one of the channels, said sheet feeding means then being effective to align the sheet with its reference edge in contact with the reference face of said one channel; a second plate parallel to said first plate and spaced therefrom by a distance sufficient to permit the passage of a single sheet, said second plate having apertures disposed opposite the channels; and the pump connection means then being oper- References iiited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Campbell Apr. 25, 1871 Harriss Ian. 20, 1920 8 Simmons Dec. 16, Reinartz July 27, Wonnser' Oct. 12, Reinartz June 6, Chatterton June 12, Long July 14, Thomas Aug. 7,

Nelson et al May 10, 

1. APPARATUS FOR ARRESTING A SHEET WITH A REFERENCE EDGE SELECTIVELY ALIGNED IN ANY OF A NUMBER OF PREDETERMINED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO A DATUM, COMPRISING A PLATE HAVING A NUMBER OF REGISTERING CHANNELS THEREIN, EACH OF THE CHANNELS HAVING A REFERENCE FACE, THE FACES BEING RESPECTIVELY IN THE DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED POSITIONS; AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MEANS FOR MOVING A SHEET RELATIVE TO THE PLATE IN ONE DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE CHANNELS; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PRODUCING AN AIR PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL AT A SELECTED ONE OF SAID CHANNELS EFFECTIVE TO DEFLECT THE REFERENCE EDGE OF THE SHEET INTO THE SELECTED CHANNEL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE SHEET, SAID SHEET FEEDING MEANS THEN BEING EFFECTIVE TO ALIGN THE SHEET WITH ITS REFERENCE EDGE IN CONTACT WITH THE REFERENCE FACE OF SAID SELECTED CHANNEL. 